Bermuda type metal shingled roof



A ril 8, 1952 c. F. SPERRY BERMUDA TYPE METAL SHINGLED ROOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1947 INVENTOR. CHARLES F- SPEQQY ALtorneys April 8, 1952 c. F. SPEIQQRY BERMUDA TYPE METAL SHINGLED ROOF Filed Marc 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR. CHAQL SPERQY April 8, 1952 c. F. SPERRY BERMUDA TYPE METAL SHINGLED ROOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1947 .w 5 R 0- v/ WE 9 V m H w 0 Vi H m5 d A L m m M m Patented Apr. 8, 1952 BERMUDA TYPE METAL'SHINGLED ROOF Charles F. Sperry, Burbank, Calif assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hayward 0. Thomas.

Pasadena, Calif.

Application March a, 1947, 'SefialNl). 731,966

-2 Claims. (01. 108-43) This invention relates to improvements in roofs and to metal shingles used in their'con'struction.

A primary object of the'invention is to provide an improved roof construction of the Bermuda type characterized by the presentation of relatively thick, widely spaced, horizontal lines across the roof, and which may be easily and economically constructed.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a roof construction of the Bermuda type wherein there are'rafters on the upper sides of which there are secured taper blocks that present at their tops a'series of stepped, downwardly sloping surfaces defined from each other by shoulders provided by the lower ends of the blocks. On these stepped surfaces, sheathing boards are secured in such a manner that the lower edges of the sheathing boards project downwardly beyond the shoulders provided by the lower ends of the taper blocks, thus forming recesses beneath the lower edges of the stepped sheathing. A novel metal shingle which may be preformed may then be applied to the stepped sheathing in such a manner that there is no danger of leakage and securing devices which secure the shingles in place are effectively covered and concealed. At the same time the thick edges characteristic of the Bermuda style of roof and which extend horizontally across the roof producing an attractive appearance are obtainable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved roof construction and shingle therefor having the above mentioned characteristics which is so designed that the construction of corner pieces at hips, valleys and the construction of ridge caps can be easily and economically accomplished and readily assembled with the straight normal shingle in the completion of the roof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial view in perspective of a portion of a roof construction embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 2--2 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in vertical'section illustrating a suitable construction that may be employed at the lower edge or at the cave of the roof;

Fig. 41s a partial view in perspective illustrating a {portion of a roof embodying the present invention wherein two hips meet at the ridge of the roof;

'Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the construction of the shingle employed at the hips;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the ridge cap and may be regarded as takensubstantially upon the line 6-6 upon Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a partial view in perspective illustrating the construction of the roof at a typical valley; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the type of shingle employed at the valley;

Fig. '9 is a partial vertical section through a roof embodying an alternative form of construction;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line Ill-I0 upon Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but illustrating still another form of construction embodying the invention; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line I2-l2 upon Fig. 11.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the construction up to the rafters l0 may conform to any conventional or preferred design. On the top surfaces of each rafter there is positioned a series of taper blocks indicated at H, I2 and it. These three taper blocks illustrated are typical of a much longer series of taper blocks that may beapplied to each rafter. Each taper block has the width preferably equal to the thickness of the rafter l0 and has its lower end of a height or thickness somewhat greater than the thickness of the sheathing boards that-are to be employed. From the thick lower end each taper block tapers uniformly up to the narrow end which preferably has some slight thickness so that'it'may be butted againstthe lower end of the taper block next above. 'I'he taper blocks can be secured on the rafters in any suitable manner such as by nailing and when applied present at their top surfaces a series of downwardly sloping stepped surfaces defined from each other by downwardly facing shoulders I4 provided by the lower ends of the taper blocks. Sheathing boards 15 are then applied to these stepped surfaces in such a mannerthat the sheathing on each taper block has its lower edge, indicated at l6, projecting downwardly below the shoulder 14. The sheathing boards on each'stepped surface or on each taper block may have their mutually engaging edges in direct contact with each other as illustrated. However, this is not essential and in many instances there may be substantial spaces between the sheathing boards in order to sheath from one shoulder M to another and allow for the projecting lower edge |6. When the sheathing boards have been applied, metal shingles are applied thereover. Each metal shingle consists of a body portion which, adjacent its upper edge, is reversely bent as at |8 to form a downwardly open pocket l9. This reversely bent portion is adapted to be extended into the recess 20 formed by the projecting lower edge "5, the shoulder l4 and the upper edge of the sheathing IS on the next lower step. The reversely bent portion terminates in an upwardly extending securing portion 2| that is adapted to be secured to the projecting lower edge l6 by nails 22 or equivalent fastening elements driven through the securing portion and into the projecting edge. The lower edge of each shingle is bent downwardly as at 23 in approximately a plane at right angles to the plane of the body portion H to provide a covering portion that covers the securing portion 2| of the shingle next below and the fasteners 22 that are driven therethrough. This covering portion terminates in a returned lower edge 24 which extends upwardly in a plane parallel to the plane of the body I! and which is adapted to be positioned in the pocket IQ of the subjacent shingle. In applying these shingles to the roof, the shingles are laid from the lower edge or eave upwardly and an eave strip may be provided which is illustrated in Fig. 3. This eave strip consists of a securing portion 25 through which fasteners 25 may be driven into the projecting lower edge I6 of the lowermost sheathing. The strip is then reversely bent as at 2! to provide a pocket 28 corresponding to the pocket I9 and adapted to receive the returned portion 24 on the lowermost shingle. The eave strip then may be bent or shaped, as indicated at 29, to form a drip. When the eave strip has been applied to the lowermost sheathing, the lowermost shingle may be applied by positioning the returned portion 24 in the pocket 28 and causing its reversely bent portion |8 to enter the recess 20 at the top of the first course. In applying the shingle, blocks may be applied on the body against the securing portion 2| and hammered upwardly. This draws the shingle tightly against the securing portion 25 of the cave strip and when the fasteners 22 are driven through the securing portions 2| this tightness is maintained. To a certain extent the reversely bent portion I8 at the top of each shingle acts somewhat in the nature of a spring maintaining the tightness thus secured. When the lowermost course of shingles have been laid, the second course may be laid by positioning their returned portions 24 in the pockets l9 and tightening the shingles upwardly by hammering blocks against their securing portions 2| and then driving the fasteners 22 therethrough. The driving of the fasteners into the edges of the sheathing in the direction indicated also tends to tighten these metal shingles. This procedure with each succeeding course is continued up to the ridge of the roof. It will be appreciated that as each succeeding course is laid its covering portion 23 covers the securing portion 2| and the fasteners 22 of the course therebelow.

The transverse length of each shingle may vary considerably. However, a suitable length is approximately eight feet. Where shingles of the same course terminate there is preferably an overlap generally indicated at 30 and a strip of bonding material, indicated by dotted lines at 3|, is applied between the opposed surfaces of the overlapped portions of the shingles. Any material that will form a strong weather-proof bond between the shingles is suitable for this purpose. A satisfactory material is that which is sold under the name of Ply-A-Bond. Its primary purpose is to bond the overlapped portions of adjacent shingles together.

In the preferred form of construction the shingles are formed of sheet aluminum although other metals such as, for example, copper are suitable. Also the metal of the shingle is preferably vertically fluted or corrugated with shallow corrugations. The use of such fiuting or corrugations, however, is optional and, if desired, the shingle may be formed of perfectly flat metal.

The formation of the improved shingle lends itself to the formation of corner shingles at hips and valleys as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8. inclusive. Thus, where the roof has a hip, as illustrated in Fig. 4, two sections of shingle indicated at 32 and 33, respectively, are joined as as 34 with a miter joint. The vertical cross section through the two sections 32 and 33 are identical with the section illustrated in Fig. 2. The joint at 34 is formed by aluminum welding in the case of aluminum, or by brazing in the case of copper. In applying these corner shingles the plain shingles are laid on the roof to a point approaching the corner and the corner shingles are applied thereover with overlaps such as those indicated at 35 and 36 which are likewise secured together by a bonding material with the portions of the adjoining shingles. These corner shingles are tightened upwardly in the same manner as above described so that their securing portions indicated at 31 and 38 are secured to the edges of the sheathing boards at the corners by nails or equivalent fasteners. In these instances the covering portions indicated at 39 merely cover the edges of the boards adjacent the hip and the return portions indicated by dotted lines at 40 on Fig. 5 will merely extend upwardly beneath the projecting lower edges of the sheathing boards and will enter pockets I9 only where the corner shingles over lap the straight shingles. In a similar manner, corner shingles are provided for the valleys, as illustrated in Fig. 8, made up of two sections 4| and 42, each of which in vertical cross section is identical with the cross section illustrated in Fig. 2. They are connected together by a miter joint at 43 accomplished either by welding or brazing and are applied in the valleys as illustrated in Fig. 7 with nails or equivalent fasteners driven through the securing portions 44. These corner shingles at the valleys likewise either overlap or are overlapped by adjoining straight shingles, indicated at 45, and the overlapped portions are bonded together as previously described.

At the ridge, as illustrated in Fig. 6, a single piece of sheet metal 46 is bent to provide two integral downwardly sloping portions 41 and 48 positioned on opposite sides of the ridge. The lower edges of these portions are initially bent as at 49 and 50 to provide a covering or concealing portion and also a returned portion. However, in the initial formation of the ridge cap the securing portion is not bent at right angles-to the plane of the body portion with portion "is "initially not bent at right angles to the covering or concealing portion. Instead, these parts'a-re bent-to the positions indicated -by-do'tted lines sothat the-spacing between the returned portions-will enable the ridge cap to he slipped over the ridge sheathing boards. Thereafter'these portions are blocked upwardly causing the -extreme lower edge to engage the surface of the subjacent shingle and to be bent thereby to form the returned portion that enters the pocket 19 of the highest shingle. Simultaneously the concealing or covering portion between the points 49 and 56 will be driven into contact with the securing portion 2! of the highest shingles. At the ends of the ridge cap there may be triangular sections 5| that are inserted and secured in place such as by welding or brazing at 52.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 9 and the rafters are indicated at 60 which in accordance with conventional constructions present smooth flat upper surfaces. In this form of construction instead of applying taper blocks to the rafters the sheathing boards 6! are tapered themselves from adjacent their lower edges upwardly. These sheathing boards each present fiat smooth upper surfaces 62 and lower surfaces 63 that converge upwardly toward the upper surfaces 52 from a point 64 which is spaced somewhat from the lower edge 65 of the sheathing board. The lower or undersurface 66 between the edge 65 and the point 68 is spaced from the top surface of the rafter and cooperates therewith to form a recess 61 somewhat corresponding to the recess 20.

I find it convenient to shape a sheathing board in this manner by taking a straight or conventional board and splitting or dividing it longitudinally upon a diagonal. Thus, for example, if a straight sheathing board one to twelve inches in cross section is sawed on a diagonal that is spaced from the edges of the board a distance equal to the distance between the edge 65 and the point 6 such sheathing board may be divided into two sheathing boards having the configuration of the sheathing board illustrated at 6! having a one-inch thickness between the edge 65 and the point 54 and then uniformly tapering to a relatively thin edge at the top. The surfaces 62 and 66 are the surfaces of the original board. These sheathing boards may be nailed directly to the rafters 60 either in close proximity to each other or in spaced relation to each other as illustrated in Fig. 9 and their lower edges 65 present the steps or downwardly facing edges of the Bermuda type roof.

The metal shingles illustrated in Fig. 9 are of the same construction previously described wherein the body portion 58 covers the entire top surface 62 of the sheathing board and may even bridge the space between adjacent sheathing boards if they are applied to the rafters St in spaced relation to each other. The reversely bent portions indicates at 69 of the shingles enter the recesses 6'! and the securing portions 10 ar fastened to the lower edges 65. Th covering portions H cover the securing portions of the shingles next below and the returned portions 12 enter the pockets [3 formed by the reversely bent portions 69. In applying the shingles the method of application is as previously described wherein the securing portions are blocked upwardly against the edge 65 of the sheathing board next above so as to in effecttight'en the shingle at the time that the nails or other fasteners are driven through the'fsecuring portions 10 and into the edges 65. r

The construction illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 is very similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 9 wherein the rafters are indicated at 75 and over the rafters there is applied a layer of fibrous material l6. Such material may be any suitable fibrous material that can be laid on the rafters in a flat condition such as for example firtex. Preferably it possesses some heat insulating properties. The sheathing boards ll identical in their formation are applied thereover and may be nailed through the fibrous material into the rafters. The shingles 78 identical in construction with those previously described may then be applied to the sheathing boards.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are quite suitable for reroofing purposes in that if it is desired to apply a new roof over a deteriorated shingle roof or other roof the sheathing boards may be laid with or without the underlying fibrous material 16 over the old roof and after being secured in place of the shingles applied thereto.

It .will be appreciated from the above described construction that an improved shingle has been devised which can be easily formed from sheet metal that is either fiat or vertically fluted. Furthermore, in the construction of the roof these shingles may be easily applied and secured in place in such a manner that the bodies of the shingles are drawn tight. The resulting roof is r of neat and attractive appearance, presenting relatively wide or broad lines in a horizontal direction formed by the covering portions which conceal the fasteners for the shingles. The laying and securing of the taper blocks on the rafters may be easily accomplished and the sheathing boards may be easily applied thereto. With this arrangement it is possible to easily compute and to lay out the spacing that will evenly divide the roof into the desired stepped appearanc with equally spaced steps.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A roof having sheathing applied to a fiat sloping surface in the construction of the roof, the sheathing presenting a flat upper surface and a flat lower surface converging upwardly therewith which is positioned directly against the firstnamed fiat sloping surface, adjacent sheathing members being spaced from one another, the undersurface of the sheathing adjacent its lower edge being parallel to the upper surface thereof and spaced from said first-named flat sloping surface forming a downwardly open recess therewith, and metal shingles covering the sheathing.

2. A roof having sheathing applied to a fiat sloping surface in the construction of the roof. the sheathing presenting a flat upper surface and a fiat lower surface converging upwardly therewith which is positioned against the first-named fiat sloping surface, adjacent sheathing members being spaced from one another, the undersurface of the sheathing adjacent its lower edge extending from the flat lower surface parallel to the upper surface thereof and spaced from said firstnamed fiat sloping surface forming a downwardly open recess therewith, and metal shingles cov- 7 ering the sheathing having portions extending Number into the recess. 716,225 CHARLES F. SPERRY. 1,700,138 1,963,583 REFERENCES CITED 7 5 2,192,314 The following references are or record in the 233L007 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name 4 1 Date 10 278,829

508,193 Tyra Nov. '7, 1893 Name Date Hansen Dec. 16, 1902 Murray Jan. 29, 1929 Jenkins June 19, 1934 Gessler Mar. 5, 1940 Vane Feb. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1927 

